MANILA – Families of those who died in the sinking of MV Trisha Kerstin 3 off Basilan are set to receive P200,000 each in compensation, an official from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) said Wednesday.

At least 18 people were reported dead after the ferry sank on Monday, January 26, while over 300 passengers were rescued and 10 remain missing.

Emmanuel Carpio, chief of MARINA’s Office of the Deputy Administrator for Operations, said survivors have already received emergency assistance of P50,000 each, as provided under the vessel’s insurance policy.

“Sa mga namatay is P200,000,” Carpio said during a hearing at the Senate Committee on Public Services.

Senator Raffy Tulfo criticized the amount, questioning, “Is that the worth of a human life?” He noted that P200,000 may not cover funeral costs or losses if the victim was the family’s primary breadwinner.

Carpio acknowledged that the compensation may be insufficient and said the insurance policy needs to be reviewed.

MARINA and the Philippine Coast Guard have launched an in-depth investigation into the sinking. Aleson Shipping Lines, the owner of MV Trisha Kerstin 3, has faced multiple maritime incidents in the past, including the 2023 MV Lady Mary Joy 3 tragedy, when 33 people died after the vessel caught fire on the same route.